Is the Saitex X56 Rhino just garbage or is it me?

[USSR]

Thoughts, anyone?

I can't get this stick to fly precisely in pitch and roll. Yaw is dull too.

Edited April 14 by USSR

[BZALGO]

It is garbage, you are fine. And this is not a "I had a bad experience" (which I did). If you mention the X-56 to anyone in the /HOTAS reddit, they will tell you the same story. We all fell for the trick of buying something that sounded decent (Saitek or Logitech) at a price that suggested a mid-tier product, and found a mess of a joystick, to work properly, you need to almost follow a ritual of turning off all RGB lights, connecting only to a USB 2.0 port and nothing else, move the throttle constantly or risk it to get it stuck, buttons that you have to pull back, 4 way hats and only work 3 or even 2 ways, constant drifting on the stick.

Perhaps the worst purchase I ever did on my life. 

[Minstrel]

Mine works fine.

[Rocket_Knut]

Ten plus year old design: Check

Based on an even older design: Check

Shoddy build quality: Check

Zero improvements over its life cycle: Check

Still advertised at 300 Euros: Check (Yes, I am ignoring the current temporary discount)

 

By the way, it´s not the in game Spitfire, you´re having issues with, is it?

[USSR]

On 4/15/2026 at 7:08 PM, Rocket_Knut said:

By the way, it´s not the in game Spitfire, you´re having issues with, is it?

No. Everything. Dogfighting in my favourites, Me109, I-16, Yaks etc. Even when you setup up a curve with no dead zone. one opens up at lower speeds or in turns and then you over-control and PIO (pilot induced oscillation)

No precision. I've had PS2 controllers that were more precise. 

[Rocket_Knut]

@USSR 

I don´t use curves and dead zones. Despite this and the points mentioned above (nowhere near a complete list), using the X-56 for a decade now, I don´t have complaints regarding precision controlling the in game A-20, the type I play the most.

However, recently I noticed a change in behavior of the thing. Flaps seem to create more drag on landing, trim seems a lot less effective, that kind of stuff. Still able to point the thing where I want it to and make a decent landing. Have to somehow relearn it to a degree though.

The Spitfire on the other hand... Well it feels like the control cables are made out of rubber band... You know: a/c trimmed out nicely. Then you pull a bit, nothing, nothing, still nothing, and all of a sudden the thing pitches up violently. And this behavior doesn´t seem to be related to the X-56 alone. 

Anyway, if yours is rubbish, if you haven´t already, refund it and go for a serious bit of kit. And then maybe report your progress here? Would be interesting to learn about the differences. Cheers!

[Aapje]

The issue with poor quality control is that people are going to have different experiences depending on how good or poorly their unit is assembled.

[USSR]

11 hours ago, Rocket_Knut said:

@USSR 

I don´t use curves and dead zones. Despite this and the points mentioned above (nowhere near a complete list), using the X-56 for a decade now, I don´t have complaints regarding precision controlling the in game A-20, the type I play the most.

However, recently I noticed a change in behavior of the thing. Flaps seem to create more drag on landing, trim seems a lot less effective, that kind of stuff. Still able to point the thing where I want it to and make a decent landing. Have to somehow relearn it to a degree though.

The Spitfire on the other hand... Well it feels like the control cables are made out of rubber band... You know: a/c trimmed out nicely. Then you pull a bit, nothing, nothing, still nothing, and all of a sudden the thing pitches up violently. And this behavior doesn´t seem to be related to the X-56 alone. 

Anyway, if yours is rubbish, if you haven´t already, refund it and go for a serious bit of kit. And then maybe report your progress here? Would be interesting to learn about the differences. Cheers!

I too have noticed a change in behaviour in flaps. Mine was a private purchase, and to be honest, I didn't use it immediately because I had other issues to deal with. Now I have found the time to get back in flight sims I have set it up and am very disappointed.

And this is very much what I am experiencing too, but with all single engine fighters.

The Spitfire on the other hand... Well it feels like the control cables are made out of rubber band... You know: a/c trimmed out nicely. Then you pull a bit, nothing, nothing, still nothing, and all of a sudden the thing pitches up violently. And this behavior doesn´t seem to be related to the X-56 alone.